Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Ntando Nkosi admits he was not expecting a call up to the senior team but is honour to have represented the Brazilians during the 2022-23 season.

Nkosi got promoted to the Sundowns senior team at the start of the 2022-23 season and made his debut in the Carling Black Label Cup.

The 19-year-old has since gone on to feature four times for the Brazilians, including three DStv Premiership appearances and one in the Caf Champions League.

Nkosi admits that he thought it was a joke when he received the call up to the senior team as he was playing for the Under-19s and not the Diski team.

“It was a surprise because I was playing for the U-19 team and not even in the DDC squad (Reserve team) or training with them, but the next thing I was invited to the first team pre-season,” Nkosi told his club’s official website.

“I thought maybe they were just pulling my leg or it’s all a dream, but as time went on I saw that it’s real. The Coach mentioned that they noticed me at the Engen Cup tournament, I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

Nkosi has also shared his thoughts on winning his first senior trophy with The Brazilians this past season.

“It feels a lot different because here you have to work for it more than ever. You have to do extra sessions and have the mentality of being strong,” he added.

“It’s different from the junior team because with the juniors it’s possible to beat a team 13-0, but here in the senior team it’s tough. You play against teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, it feels different because you have to work really hard to earn those trophies in the senior team.

“I got the first phone call from my mother, she was even crying and telling me how proud she is. I also cried with her to hear how happy she was, it was great.”

Speaking on making his debut in the Carling Black Label Cup and going on to feature in numerous matches for Sundowns, he said: “My debut was in the DStv Premiership against Richards Bay, I played well but there’s still a lot to improve because I wasn’t expecting to play.

“The minute the Coach told me I will be going in I thought to myself that my time is now. The only thing that I kept telling myself in my head was that my time is now and it’s time to prove why I am here, I am not here by mistake and I kept motivating myself up, I liked it because it also gave me the right mentality because even now I have this thing of pushing myself mentally and telling myself that whatever I get thrown into I will fight it out there.”

Photo by Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix